A spokesman said the 84-year-old's lawyers lodged the papers at the court of appeal earlier this week. He said: "We can confirm that this has taken place. It will be considered by a single judge in due course."

The Australian-born TV star, musician and entertainer was jailed for five years and nine months after a jury unanimously convicted him of 12 indecent assaults spanning almost two decades from 1968. Harris's victims included a close friend of his own daughter, Bindi, who he groomed and assaulted repeatedly from the age of 13, and a girl aged about eight who he groped after she sought his autograph at a public event.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, told Harris at the sentencing that he "took advantage of the trust placed in you because of your celebrity status" to carry out the attacks, and seemingly got a thrill from assaulting people when others were nearby."

The attorney general's office immediately announced it would examine whether the sentence was unduly lenient after receiving demands from the public. On Wednesday, it was announced that the new attorney general, Jeremy Wright, would not refer the sentence to the court of appeal for a possible increase as Sweeney had been bound by the sentencing regulations in force when the offences were committed.

A spokesman for Wright's office said: "The judge made some of the sentences consecutive to reach the total sentence, but he could not simply add up sentences on individual counts; the overall sentence had to be just and proportionate to the overall offending. The judge was also required to take into account the age of the offender. The attorney general understands that his decision may be a disappointment to some people."

As well as his jail term, Harris potentially faces the loss of much of his £11m personal fortune after a series of alleged victims of assaults began civil lawsuits against him. He also faces a significant legal bill following the trial.

He is also set to be stripped of various honours, including a CBE, professional fellowships and honorary degrees. A plaque dedicated to him in his home town of Bassendean in Western Australia has been stolen and is unlikely to be replaced, and his former school has taken down his artwork.